INDIANAPOLIS -- Tyreke Evans leaves the door open that he'd consider coming back to play for the Indiana Pacers, but he'd have to be the player he was allowed to be in the last two games of their series sweep with the Boston Celtics.

"I'm looking for a good team," he said.

Also a team that'll let him play through his mistakes and be himself.

Evans, who averaged 20 points in playing an average of 24 minutes off the bench in Games 3 and 4, had chances to sign last summer with the L.A. Lakers and Charlotte Hornets.

Indiana Pacers guard Tyreke Evans (12) shoots over Boston Celtics forward Daniel Theis (27) in the first half of their game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday, April 21, 2019.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

It was a wise choice to bypass them for the Pacers as both missed the postseason, but 2018-19 still fell short of his expectations going into the summer as an unrestricted free agent.

"The playing situation was just a little different," said Evans, who was suspended for chronic tardiness for the sixth game in his first season with the Pacers. "Not how I expected it to be. I feel like I was forcing a lot when I came in."

He adapted to the culture under coach Nate McMillan and found himself in the playoffs for just the second time in 10 years.

Was Evans, a career-long isolation combo guard, better on the ball or off it?

He had stretches of success doing well with both, used for his 6-6 size in three-guard lineups to post smaller defenders or running pick-and-roll with Domantas Sabonis.

When the Celtics took the latter option away with their coverages, Sabonis struggled. Evans didn't.

He kept the Pacers viable because of his shot-making ability, something they lacked next to Oladipo last year in losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games. Evans, who shot 21-for-48 vs. Boston, including 11-for-20 on 3s, was a better option than Lance Stephenson.

There was no Oladipo, however, who went down with a season-ending right knee injury Jan. 23.

It began when Joel Embiid, a 250-pound center for the Philadelphia 76ers, fell on him during a game.

After draining fluid didn't work, Evans needed a platelet-rich plasma injection to alleviate discomfort in late December. He had more fluid drawn and another injection during the All-Star break.

Every time Evans had a collision or run-in, his knee swelled and he started wearing protective pads.

With each shot came spikes in play. Evans has never been a strong finisher at the rim but he's good at breaking down defenses, which opens seams for the likes of Sabonis to follow him for putbacks.

Veteran Thaddeus Young lauded Evans for being a good teammate and handling his early-season suspension like a pro.

When rookie Aaron Holiday had it going in a November game, Evans couldn't have been happier for him. He didn't try to force his way back into the game out of selfishness and urged McMillan to keep him in while he sat himself.

"Knowing when to attack, knowing when not to attack, it was a little different for me," Evans said. "Everybody has ups and downs. I'm going to be ready for next year and work my (butt) off to be so."